This book offers new insights into the real and financial sectors in the post-pandemic European Union, with a specific focus on the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and a special reference to Croatia. The contributors examine the timeliness, justification, and appropriateness of the measures taken in response to the deteriorating economic conditions and the associated outcomes. They further discuss various aspects of economic, financial, and energy policy. While doing so, they focus on two important issues. The first is an analysis and assessment of the financial development and performance of the real sector. The second is an insight into the institutional dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the discussion of obstacles and opportunities for recovery in the near future. The topics covered in this book include, but are not limited to, unconventional monetary policy, financial cycles, fiscal incentives, institutional development and institutional quality, the banking system, real estate markets, competitiveness, pension systems, financial regulation, energy markets, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, as well as agricultural policy. Therefore, this volume will appeal to researchers, students, and scholars of finance and economics, as well as policy-makers interested in a better understanding of real and financial sectors, economic policy, and post-pandemic economic development in Central and Eastern Europe.

Autorentext

Bojana Olgic Drazenovic is an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, Croatia. Her research focuses on financial institutions and markets, pension systems, and institutional investors. She is the chair of the student scholarship committee at the University of Rijeka. Olgic Drazenovic has also participated in several scientific conferences in Croatia and abroad and published over 50 scientific and professional papers. She has been a member and leader of several scientific projects in the field of finance, focusing on the development of financial institutions. Vesna Buterin is an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, Croatia. Her main fields of scientific interest cover macroeconomics, economic growth, institutions, and institutional quality. She has published over 40 scientific papers, participated in numerous scientific conferences and scientific projects as a project leader and project team member. Buterin is a member of the program committee of the international conference Economics of Digital Transformation (EDT), organised and hosted by the Faculty of Economics in Rijeka. Stella Suljic Nikolaj is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, Croatia. Her scientific interest focuses on financial and banking stability, as well as financial markets and institutions. She has experience in leading research projects but has also participated as a researcher in several scientific projects in the field of finance. Suljic Nikolaj is the author and co-author of about 30 scientific papers.

Inhalt

Chapter 1. From Pandemics to the Unconventional Monetary Policy in EMs: The Case of Croatia.- Chapter 2. Financial Cycle Convergence: Evidence on Financial Cycles Synchronisation in the European Union and the European Economic and Monetary Union.- Chapter 3. Fiscal Response to the COVID-19 Shock in Croatia.- Chapter 4. The Impact of Financial Integration on Sectoral Polarization Between Croatia and Eurozone Countries.- Chapter 5. Foreign-Owned Banks and Real Estate Markets in Croatia: A Panel Data Analysis.- Chapter 6. Financial Cooperatives Development in Croatia: Social Capital Perspective.- Chapter 7. EU Tax and Agricultural Policy in the Wine Sector.- Chapter 8. Integration as an Indicator of (Under) Development of the Croatian Capital Market.- Chapter 9. Perspectives and Challenges in the Development of the Croatian Digital Startup Sector.- Chapter 10. Pension Funds Regulation in the Context of Investment Climate Development.- Chapter 11. Challenges of Energy Policy Within Decarbonization - Evidence of the European Union.